Palm Sunday ushers in Holy Week, starting as it does with the waving of palms and shouts of Hosanna. We'll gather in the yard, weather permitting, before the 9 and 11 a.m. services for the liturgy of the palms and process into the church singing "All Glory Laud and Honor".  The mood turns quickly somber then with the reading of the passion, the story of Jesus' death.  Holy Week has begun.

Maundy Thursday, April 9, 7:30 p.m.

Again this year the Maundy Thursday liturgy will be in the context of a simple meal and Eucharist in the Parish Hall.  The Great Thanksgiving we will use on this night is based on Jewish festival meal blessings from which all our later Eucharistic traditions developed. Supper will be provided.

Good Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.

The traditional Good Friday liturgy with the St. Paul's choir and the Lavazza Chamber Ensemble will be in the church, and music will include Lotti's Crucifixus, Bach's O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens licht, and Gesualdo's O vos omnes.

Easter Vigil, April 11, 7:30 p.m.

The Great Vigil of Easter happens at church this year for the first time, beginning with the lighting of the new fire outside and a procession indoors to hear the ancient accounts of God's saving work. Then comes the great moment: the passing over from Lent to Easter, from darkness to light, from death to resurrection. Please bring your bells to the Vigil to join in this joyous noise of praise and thanksgiving. With this sound and the shout of "Alleluia, Christ is risen!" we will move into our first Eucharist of Easter.

Rockin' Auction: Gift basket Sunday

I was explaining the gift basket sign up sheet at coffee hour and the person I was speaking with remarked that he would bring in some baskets for the effort.  Which got us thinking:  Let's have a "Gift Basket Sunday."   So we will.  Starting this week, please bring in your random items that are not enough to donate alone, but might pair nicely with a few other items in a gift basket.  For example, we have footed sherbet cups and an ice cream scoop, match them up with a few jars of ice cream topping and sprinkles and what a great Ice Cream Social gift basket!  A drop off bin will be available during coffee hour, as well as a sheet where you can see what has been donated and sign up to bring something else in.  We will gather our offerings on Sunday, March 26^th and put the baskets together.   All size baskets, as well as all types of items are needed! For more information or to make a donation (gift basket or otherwise) please contact Beth Chapman:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Last Lenten House Church for the season, Friday, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

April 3 at the Rugen/Boral home, 354 Pearl St, Cambridge

Daily meditation from Episcopal Relief and Development

Here's a Lenten meditation from ERD that was emailed April 1:
When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. Mark 5:39-40

I think we know what kind of laughter that was. It was sarcastic, bitter and hopeless.

Jesus leaves all those laughing people outside and brings only those who are prepared to love the bereaved parents and the little girl. In her room, a miracle happens. And the only people there to see it are those who are willing to look like fools because their longing is so intense that they don't care how they look.

There is a price to an open heart. You look like a fool sometimes. But there will be things you see that the sophisticates will miss. Grace can be subtle, a matter of interpretation. Just imagine the people outside when the little girl emerged, well, happy and hungry for her supper.

Announcing:  Sundays at 9

One of the things you said about the 8 and 10 a.m. schedule which begins April 19 is that it will allow time for adult education at 9-and so, Sundays at 9 is born! The lineup of topics this spring is impressive:

• Starting off on April 26, the Rev. Richard McCall, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Liturgy at EDS, and a name you recognize) will present The Shape of the Liturgy, or What are we doing when we do it?
• On May 3, architect Brett Donham will cover a lot of ground in From the Early Church to the 21^st Century: 2000 years of church architecture.
• Experienced meditation teacher Angela Margolis will offer two sessions of introductory meditation on May 10 and 17.
• Following a break for Memorial Day weekend, Brett will return on Pentecost, May 31, to tell the story of the evolution of the early New England meeting house to the quintessential New England white steepled church.
• The series concludes on June 7 with the Rev. Gordon Schultz, a Lutheran pastor and newcomer to St. Paul's-topic TBD.

Adult education doesn't get much better than this, so come at 9 for some fascinating discussion. The coffee and tea will be ready!

Easter flower memorials

If you would like to contribute to Easter flowers in memory or in honor of someone, please contact Karol Bibbs at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 617-277-3442.